RM5bil project to turn Ipoh railway station into transport hub

IPOH: A RM5bil integrated development project will be carried out at the Ipoh railway station and its surrounding areas, says Transport Minister Anthony Loke.

He said the mixed development project would take between 10 and 15 years to be fully completed.

The project on a 78ha land is a joint venture between the state government’s Mentri Besar Incorporated (MB Inc) and Railway Assets Corporation (RAC).

“The project includes the development of housing areas, hotels, educational institutions, commercial buildings, as well as green lungs.

“I have had discussions with the Perak Mentri Besar, and we hope to see the development project expedited, ” he told a press conference Thursday (Oct 4).

He was speaking to reporters after Sultan of Perak Sultan Nazrin Muizzuddin Shah launched the ETS2 and the integrated development project at the premises of the railway station.

Present at the event were Raja Permaisuri Perak Tuanku Zara Salim and Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu.

Loke said the project would be carried out in phases, and both the state and federal governments were committed in making the project a success.

“The important thing is to turn the train station into a transportation hub which connects everyone.

“About 16% of the land area will be allocated for the development of an affordable housing project, ” he added.

In his speech earlier, Loke said Keretapi Tanah Melayu Berhad (KTMB) had plans to increase the Electric Train Service (ETS) to 50 rides per day.

He said the increase in the rides would allow 5.7 million passengers to use the service per year or equivalent to 15,600 passengers per day.

“KTMB is now offering promotions on its tickets for the newly launched ETS2 business class coach until Nov 30, ” he added.

He said in Perak, the ETS passes through 14 stations from Tanjung Malim to Parit Buntar.